ABC Picks Up Impact, New Four-Hour Sci-Fi Miniseries March 9, 2009 4:41 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, News, Sci Fi, Television.Tags: David James Elliot, Impact, James Cromwell, Natasha Henstridge, Steven Culp
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ABC has picked up Impact, a four-hour miniseries about humanity’s efforts to survive after the moon is hit by a meteor and enters into a collision course with Earth. The $14 million production was directed by Michael J. Rohl and stars David James Elliot, Natasha Henstridge, Steven Culp and James Cromwell.
The SCI FI Channel has second-window rights, while Sony Pictures Home Entertainment acquired the video rights to the miniseries.
Source: Variety
Heroes May Be Returning, But It’s Still in Trouble March 8, 2009 10:36 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in News, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Broadcast TV Ratings, Heroes
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Although NBC promises the show is coming back for another season (see previous story), and insists that even season four won’t be its last, it’s time to face facts: Heroes is in deep trouble. Based just on season averages, over the course of three seasons the show has shed 5.78M viewers (-42%) and 2.3 A18-49 rating points (-38%).
But the bigger issue here is the more recent slide in viewers which has resulted in continued week-to-week series lows and an overall low viewership standing. Much more after the jump, including a full look at the ratings charts teased above. (more…)
Dakota Fanning To Star in New Moon March 8, 2009 8:21 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Casting, Movies, News, Summit Entertainment.Tags: Dakota Fanning, The Twilight Saga's New Moon
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It’s official. The late-January report from E! Online that Dakota Fanning was in talks to play Jane in The Twilight Saga’s New Moon has been confirmed. A rep for Summit Entertainment has confirmed the casting news to People Magazine.
Filming on ‘New Moon’ is set to begin in Vancouver later this month.
“We did just get a script. We’re shooting the rest of the films back to back,” says Nikki Reed, who plays Rosalie Hale in the film. “(Director) Chris Weitz is amazing and I think it’s going to be wonderful.”
The Twilight Saga’s New Moon hits theaters on November 20, 2009.
New Photos: Jake Gyllenhaal in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time March 8, 2009 7:49 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Images/Photos, Movies.Tags: Jake Gyllenhaal, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
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The Huffington Post has gotten their hands on two new photos of Jake Gyllenhaal as Prince Dastan in Disney’s adapation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Click the above photo to head on over to the Huffington Post to check out high-res versions of the photos.
Synopsis
Ubisoft’s popular video-game series of the same name gets adapted for the big screen in this sweeping fantasy adventure starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton. The setting is sixth century Persia. A nefarious nobleman covets the Sands of Time, a legendary gift from the gods that allows its possessor to turn back time. Whoever owns the Sands of Time has the power to rule the world, and this villainous lord would use that power to enslave all of humanity. The only person capable of defeating this tyrant and saving the world is Dastan (Gyllenhaal), a youthful prince. Now, with plucky princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton) by his side, Dastan will attempt to prevent the Sands of Time from falling into the wrong hands. Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) directs a script penned by Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro, Jordan Mechner, and Boaz Yakin.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time hits theaters on May 28, 2010.
Knight Rider Probably Not Coming Back March 8, 2009 7:33 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in NBC, News, Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Broadcast TV Ratings, Knight Rider
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Last Wednesday’s season finale of Knight Rider will likely serve as the show’s series finale. TV Guide is reporting that despite heavy reto0ling, the show will not be returning for a second season. Last Wednesday’s finale drew just 5.68 million viewers and a 1.7 A18-49 rating, down 23 and 32 percent, respectively from the show’s season premiere last fall (7.35M viewers and a 2.5 A18-49 rating). NBC refused comment.
Wolverine: New Deadpool Photo March 8, 2009 7:19 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in 20th Century Fox, Images/Photos, Movies.Tags: Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds, X-Men Origins: Wolverine
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Superhero Hype! has received a brand new photo of Ryan Reynolds in the role of Wade Wilson/Deadpool in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Click the image above to check out a bigger version of the photo. And in case you missed it, head on through the jump to watch the film’s just-released final trailer.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine hits theaters on May 1, 2009. (more…)
New Up Trailer March 8, 2009 7:11 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movie Trailers, Movies, News.Tags: Up
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Disney/Pixar have debuted the new trailer for their next animated feature Up. This looks like another winner for Pixar. The trailer gives us the deepest look into the film, including a new character (a talking dog) and a first look at the film’s villain. Watch the trailer after the jump. (more…)
Broadcast TV Ratings for Saturday, March 7, 2009 March 8, 2009 6:08 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Broadcast TV Ratings, Saturday
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Watchmen Takes Weekend With Strong Debut March 8, 2009 3:26 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Box Office, Movies, Warner Brothers.Tags: Watchmen
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According to studio estimates, Warner Brothers adaptation of the Alan Moore comic/graphic novel Watchmen pulled in a very respectable $55.7 million this weekend. The film took in $25.14 million on Friday, dropped to $19 million on Saturday and is expected to pull in another $11.52 million through tonight (Sunday).
Now, it’s true that the movie failed to match Snyder’s last, 300 (which grossed a March record $70.9 million in 2007) and WB had reportedly been hoping for $60 million or so, but this performance is still very impressive.
That’s all especially true when you factor in the age and difficulty in adapting the source material to the big screen with care, the fact that this is not a sequel of any kind and most especially the R-Rating and very long length (2 hours and 43 minutes). It’ll be very interesting to see where the movie lands in the coming weeks, but there is no doubt that the long length limited its opening weekend performance even though it played in 3,611 theaters, a record for an R-Rated film. Then again, it’s total screen count of 7,500 is no where near a record–again, this is all due to the film’s long length.
Looking a bit more on the positive angle, while some may feel the movie’s total gross was a little on the disappointing side, there should be no disappointment with the IMAX folks. Playing at 124 IMAX theaters (~3% of its total theater account), Watchmen drew an impressive $5.5 million (~$44,000 per theater average) of its business from the large-screen format, accounting for a hefty 10 or so percent of its overall weekend gross. In fact, it was the second-largest IMAX launch ever behind The Dark Knight which took in $6.3 million at 94 sites (accounting for just a little under 4% of its total gross) and unlike Watchmen had 24-hour showings to help boost its gross:
“This solidifies in our mind that we’re the choice for the fan boys, and we love having them,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of Filmed Entertainment for IMAX
Source: Box Office Mojo
Watchmen: $25.1M Opening Day March 7, 2009 11:46 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Box Office, Movies, News, Warner Brothers.Tags: Watchmen
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Watchmen grabbed an estimated $25.14 million on Friday. That figure includes the $4.55 million that the film grossed from midnight Thursday grosses. That’s actually slightly lower than Snyder’s last film, 2007’s 300 which grabbed $28.11 million in its first day ($2.5 million of which from Thursday midnight).
While 300’s March opening weekend record of $70.89 million isn’t out of reach, many analysts expect the film to drop off and fall short of that tally, instead finishing the weekend at around $55-60 million.
Make no mistake, that’s still impressive. The issue here seems to be the film’s long run time. At 2 hours and 43 minutes, it’s a full 46 minutes longer than Snyder’s 300. In addition to the fatigue concern, there’s the simple fact that it won’t be able to be played in as many screens as most other, shorter, blockbusters.
Look for further updates on the film’s gross throughout the weekend.
Broadcast TV Ratings for Friday, March 6, 2009 March 7, 2009 6:38 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Broadcast TV Ratings, Friday
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Broadcast TV Ratings for Thursday, March 5, 2009 March 6, 2009 5:01 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Broadcast TV Ratings, Thursday
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DWTS: Nancy O’Dell and Jewel Out, Holly Madison In March 6, 2009 2:37 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in ABC, News, Television.Tags: Dancing with the Stars, Holly Madison, Jewel, Nancy O'Dell
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ABC has confirmed that injuries have forced Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell and singer Jewel out of competition for the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars (premieres this Monday on ABC).
E! Online reports that Holly Madison of E!’s reality series Girls Next Door will be on the season instead. Hugh Hefner has confirmed the news himself, saying he “made the arrangements” for Madison to replace Jewel on the show. “It’s a show she’s wanted to be on for a long time,” Hefner said, adding “I’m delighted. It’s all good stuff.”
The other replacement will be announced on the season premiere Monday night, where both Jewel and O’Dell will appear to talk about their injuries. Sex and the City star Gilles Marini is also battling injuries (diagnosed with tendonitis in his shoulder and groin) but is still hanging in.
Source: E! Online
Seth Rogen Talks Green Hornet March 6, 2009 2:16 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Columbia Pictures, Movies, News, Sony Pictures.Tags: Seth Rogen, Stephen Chow, The Green Hornet
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Seth Rogen is doing press for his latest film Monsters vs. Aliens, but found some time to talk about Green Hornet, which he co-wrote and stars in.
According to MovieHole, Rogen says that the film will begin shooting this June. Rogen also reiterated that the film will not be an origin story in the traditional sense and will be unlike every other superhero film out there. Rogen also said that it’ll concentrate on the relationship bettween Green Hornet and Kato (played by Stephen Chow).
Midnight Watchmen Screenings Take In $4.6M March 6, 2009 1:58 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Box Office, Movies, News, Warner Brothers.Tags: Watchmen
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Watchmen grossed $4.6 million from Thursday midnight runs. That’s nearly double the midnight gross for Snyder’s previous film 300, which took in $2.5M in March 2006. The film played in more than 1,595 theaters across the country and did so well in IMAX that the exhibtor sold out all 124 showings and added 3am showings. IMAX adds that much of the weekend is already sold out.
Watchmen opens wide today in a record — for an R-rated film — 3,611 theaters. Most analysts expect the film to gross somewhere in the neighborhood of $60-70 million, more than likely near the higher end of those projections, meaning it may beat the weekend gross of Snyder’s 300, which holds a March record of $70.9 million in its opening weekend.
Source: Variety
Star Trek Trailer #3 [Update: HD Version] March 5, 2009 11:29 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movie Trailers, Movies.Tags: Star Trek
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UPDATED at 10:45AM ET on March 6, 2009
The original trailer was the UK release. The official Star Trek website and Apple.com have been updated with the new US trailer (in HD), which only slightly differs from the UK version. Continue through the jump to watch both versions.
The new trailer for J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek will be attached to Watchmen this weekend, but if you haven’t seen the movie yet and you’re unwilling to hold out for a few more hours, then you’re in luck as it’s been released online. Click through the jump to check it out. (more…)
Watchmen Character Profiles: The Comedian, Silk Spectre II and Nite Owl II March 5, 2009 11:21 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, Video Clips.Tags: Watchmen
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The final three exclusive Watchmen character profiles — for The Comedian, Silk Spectre II and Nite Owl II — have gone live on NBC.com/Watchmen. Click the link, or the above image, to watch the three spots (when you reach the site, just click the character name on the lower right hand side to watch the appropriate profile).
And for any and all checking out Watchmen at one of the 1,600 or so theaters across the nation at midnight: enjoy yourselves!
Seinfeld Cast to Guest on Curb Your Enthusiasm March 5, 2009 11:16 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in HBO, News, Television.Tags: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jason Alexander, Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Larry David, Michael Richards, Seinfeld
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The cast of Seinfeld is returning to television. EW is reporting that the four stars of the nine-year NBC series Seinfeld — Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards — “will be featured in a multiple-episode story arc” the seventh season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm this fall.
Larry David, creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm, co-created Seinfeld with Jerry Seinfeld. The re-uniting of the four main cast members marks the first time they’ve all appeared together in a scripted TV show since Seinfeld went off the air nearly 11 years ago.
Fourth Mad Max In Development, In Animated 3D March 5, 2009 11:07 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News.Tags: George Miller, Mad Max
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Director George Miller told MTV that a fourth Mad Max movie, sans Mel Gibson, is in development and that they’re taking a different route, it’ll be 3D and animated:
Now Miller is resurrecting the idea as an R-rated, stereoscopic anime flick for theatrical release. It’s a curious undertaking, to be sure, but one made all the more certain to happen after the runaway success in 2006 of his computer-animated “Happy Feet”—not that the newest, ever-violent “Max” film will have much in common with that kid-friendly penguin party.
“I see myself as someone who is very curious about storytelling and all its various media,” Miller said. “I’ve always loved anime, in particular the Japanese sensibility. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Read the rest of the interview at MTV.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Set for April 16, 2010 March 5, 2009 11:02 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, New Line, News, Release Dates, Warner Brothers.Tags: A Nightmare on Elm Street
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Warner Bros. and New Line have set an April 16, 2010 release date for the upcoming horror remake A Nightmare on Elm Street.
The project is based on a script by Wesley Strick and will be directed by music-video turned film director Samuel Bayer. At the moment, competition isn’t too crowded for that date, with just two other wide releases set: Weinstein’s Nerveracker and Lionsgate’s animated film Alpha and Omega.
via ShockTillYouDrop
Heroes Likely Returning for a Fourth Season March 5, 2009 10:59 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in NBC, News, Television.Tags: Heroes
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NBC entertainment president Angela Bomstad tells THR that Heroes is not “on the bubble”, despite series low ratings, and will be renewed for a fourth season of 18-20 episodes.
That would be a smaller full-season order than usual for network television (usually 22-26 episodes).
Despite the low ratings — which I’ll address in an upcoming post (by the end of the weekend) — the show has one thing still going for it: international appeal. Bromstad said that she experienced the drama’s global popularity first-hand in her previous NBC post, heading the network’s international efforts:
“Every single place you go has heard about ‘Heroes’ — whether you’re in China or Japan or Russia,” she said. “And to me, that is global content.”
Despite Bromstad’s confidence that the show will be renewed, nothing is official until it’s official, but apparently NBC is not deterred by the current ratings. The THR article also notes that the network has privately discussed setting a series end date for Heroes, but if such a move were to be made, they wouldn’t want next season to be the conclusion.
Final X-Men Origins: Wolverine Trailer March 5, 2009 10:51 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movie Trailers, Movies.Tags: X-Men Origins: Wolverine
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MTV has the final trailer for 20th Century Fox’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Watch it embedded below.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine hits theaters on May 1, 2009.
Broadcast TV Ratings for Wednesday, March 4, 2009 March 5, 2009 10:40 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Nielsen TV Ratings, Television.Tags: Broadcast TV Ratings, Wednesday
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Full ratings and breakdown’s, including week-to-week comparisons, etc., follow after the jump.
Watchmen Character Profile: Ozymandias March 4, 2009 10:36 pm
Posted by Rosario T. Calabria in Movies, News, Video Clips, Warner Brothers.Tags: Watchmen
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The third of six exclusive Watchmen character profile’s (discussed in this post), this one focusing on Ozymandias, has aired on SCI FI during the network’s telecast of Ghost Hunters International and is now available to watch online at http://www.nbc.com/watchmen/.
OZYMANDIAS
Adrian Veidt, acclaimed as “The World’s Smartest Man,” was inspired by the life of Alexander the Great to take on the costumed identity of Ozymandias. Having trained his body to athletic perfection, he operated for only a few years before retiring, revealing his secret identity publicly, and building a financial empire based around his past as a costumed hero. Determined to do true good in the world, he is one of the few vigilantes apparently free from psychological scars from his years fighting crime.
Click the image below to watch the character profile clip.
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